Osteospermum plant named ‘SAKOST3586’

ABSTRACT

A new  Osteospermum  plant particularly distinguished by having yellow-orange flowers with a purple base and streaks of purple from the base of the petal to the tip, medium-large flowers and compact growth habit, is disclosed.

Genus and species: Osteospermum hybrida.

Variety denomination: ‘SAKOST3586’.

BACKGROUND OF THE NEW PLANT

‘SAKOST3586’ originated from a hybridization of proprietary hybridOsteospermum breeding lines ‘203149’ and ‘203148’ in Aabyhoej, Denmark.The proprietary female parent, ‘203149’ (unpatented) has a lightbronze-yellow flower color with a terracotta-brown color at the flowerpetal apices. The proprietary male parent, ‘203148’ (unpatented) has adeep rose-pink flower color that darkens toward the flower petal apices.

In spring 2004, the two Osteospermum lines were crossed and seeds wereobtained. The seeds were sown and 300 plants were grown in pots forevaluation. Out of 300 F₁ lines, plant number 29 was selected for flowercolor and size.

In spring 2005, plant number 29 was vegetatively propagated by cuttingsand evaluated in an open field and a greenhouse in Denmark. Plant No. 29was given the code number ‘205036’ and the stability of the distinctcharacteristics of this variety was confirmed.

In spring 2006, plants ‘205036’ were evaluated again in pots and in anopen field. The selection was named ‘SAKOST3586’ and was found toreproduce true to type in successive generations of asexual propagation.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The following are the most outstanding and distinguishingcharacteristics of this new cultivar when grown under normalhorticultural practices in Salinas, Calif.

-   -   1. Yellow-orange flowers with a purple base and streaks of        purple from the base of the petal to the tip;    -   2. Medium-large flowers; and    -   3. Compact growth habit.

DESCRIPTION OF PHOTOGRAPHS

This new Osteospermum plant is illustrated by the accompanyingphotographs which show the plant's overall plant habit including form,foliage and flowers. The photographs are of a plant grown 4 months fromtransplant date and six months from stick date in six inch pots fromrooted cuttings in Salinas, Calif. in the spring of 2008. The colorsshown are as true as can be reasonably obtained by conventionalphotographic procedures.

FIG. 1 shows overall plant habit of the plant grown in a pot.

FIG. 2 shows the mature inflorescence of the plant.

DESCRIPTION OF THE NEW CULTIVAR

The following detailed descriptions set forth the distinctivecharacteristics of ‘SAKOST3586’. The data which define thesecharacteristics were collected from asexual reproductions carried out inSalinas, Calif. Data was collected on plants grown approximately fourmonths from transplant date and six months from stick date into 6-inchpots under greenhouse conditions in Salinas, Calif. in the spring of2008. Color references are to the R.H.S. Colour Chart of The RoyalHorticultural Society of London (R.H.S.), 4^(th) edition.

DESCRIPTION OF THE NEW PLANT

-   Classification:    -   -   Family.—Compositae.        -   Botanical.— Osteospermum hybrida.-   Parentage:    -   -   Female parent.—A hybrid proprietary Osteospermum line            ‘203149’, having a light bronze-yellow flower color            (unpatented).        -   Male parent.—A hybrid proprietary Osteospermum line            ‘203148’, having a deep rose flower color (unpatented).-   Growth:    -   -   Time to produce a rooted cutting.—Cuttings will colonize a            2.5 cm. diameter by 2.5 cm. tall greenhouse tray cell with            peat-based plant media in approximately four weeks. Cuttings            are dipped in a normal dilution (1:9) of Dip 'N Grow root            inducing solution in water. The trays are misted hourly            during rooting.        -   Environmental conditions for plant growth.—Rooted cuttings            are transplanted to pots with a 16 cm. diameter, one plant            per pot. Peat-based growing media is used. The pots are            watered using a 150–200 ppm fertilizer solution using            18-8-18 fertilizer. The soil is allowed to dry between            watering. During the first few weeks after transplanting the            plants should have evening temperatures around 15°–18° C.            for good root growth. When plants reach 7.5–10 cm. in height            they are pinched back to 5–6 leaves to promote branching.            Spring and summer daytime high temperatures in Salinas,            Calif., where the data was collected, range from 16°–25° C.        -   Time to bloom from propagation.—Approximately four weeks            when rooted vegetative cuttings are transferred to a 5 inch            diameter pot. Flowering season is all year in the United            States. Vernalization is not required to induce flowering.-   Plant description:    -   -   Habit.—Upright, tall.        -   Life cycle.—Perennial.        -   Form.—Erect, branching.        -   Height (from soil line to first node).—4.0 cm.        -   Height (from soil line to top of foliage).—30.0 cm.        -   Width.—32.0 cm.-   Stems:    -   -   General.—Circular in cross section.        -   Internode length.—3.0 cm.        -   Stem shape.—Round.        -   Stem diameter.—0.4 cm.        -   Stem color.—RHS 143C (Green).        -   Stem length (total).—8.0 cm to 10.0 cm.        -   Stem length (from soil to first node).—4.0 cm.        -   Stem length (between first and second nodes).—3.0 cm.        -   Pubescence.—Very slight.        -   Pubescence shape.—Hair-like fibers, straight and short.        -   Pubescence color.—RHS N155A (White).        -   Anthocyanin color.—RHS N77C (Purple).-   Leaves:    -   -   Arrangement.—Alternate.        -   Shape.—Oblanceolate.        -   Apex.—Acute.        -   Base.—Attenuate.        -   Margin.—Serrate.        -   Venation.—Anastomosing.        -   Surface (both surfaces).—Dull.        -   Surface pubescence (both surfaces).—Slight.        -   Attachment.—Decurrant.        -   Length.—7.0 cm.        -   Width.—3.0 cm to 3.5 cm.        -   Thickness.—Less than 0.1 cm.        -   Color.—Upper surface: RHS 139D (Green). Lower surface: RHS            138B (Green).        -   Venation color (both surfaces).—RHS 139D (Green).-   Inflorescence:    -   -   Number per plant.—3.        -   Type.—Capitulum (head); disc florets are perfect and ray            florets are carpellate.        -   Flowering habit.—Determinate.        -   Lastingness of flowers.—3 to 4 days.        -   Fragrance.—None.        -   Seed production.—None observed.        -   Diameter.—8.5 cm.        -   Depth.—1.5 cm.        -   Petal number.—33 per inflorescence.        -   Disc diameter.—3.0 cm.        -   Disc floret number.—80 to 100 per inflorescence.        -   Peduncle length.—8.0 cm from inflorescence to first node.        -   Peduncle diameter.—0.2 cm to 0.3 cm.        -   Peduncle color.—RHS 143C (Green).        -   Peduncle texture.—Dull, slight pubescence.        -   Phyllaries.—Arrangement: 24 per inflorescence, free,            arranged symmetrically. Length: 1.5 cm. Width: 0.2 cm. Apex:            Acute. Margin: Entire. Shape: Linear, acute. Color: Upper            surface: RHS 138A (Green) with RHS 144D (Yellow-green)            around the edge. Lower surface: RHS 138B (Green) with RHS            144D (Yellow-green) around the edge.-   Ray florets (ligules):    -   -   Corolla.—One petal per ray floret; only the outer row of            florets are the ray florets.        -   Number of ray florets per inflorescence.—33.        -   Length.—3.8 cm. to 3.9 cm.        -   Width.—1.0 cm.        -   Shape.—Lanceolate.        -   Apex.—Acute.        -   Margin.—Entire.        -   Color.—Upper surface: RHS 18A (Yellow-orange) at tip, RHS            N78B (Purple) at the base with streaks of RHS N78C (Purple)            from base to tip, with the color fading closer to the tip.            Lower surface: RHS 12B (Yellow) with RHS N77D (Purple)            streaks mostly at the center from base to tip; floret is RHS            155A (White) at base only.        -   Pubescence.—Glabrous.-   Disc florets:    -   -   Bud color.—RHS 155A (White).        -   Shape.—Tubular.        -   Apex.—Rounded.        -   Surface.—Dull, pubescent.        -   Size.—Length: 0.1 cm. Width: 0.1 cm.-   Reproductive organs:    -   -   Ovary.—Superior.        -   Pistil form.—One style with two stigma branches.        -   Pistil length.—0.2 cm.        -   Stigma color.—RHS N177A (Purple) around the edge of branches            with RHS 155A (White) in the center.        -   Style color.—RHS 155A (White).        -   Stamens.—5, fused into a single tube.        -   Anther color.—RHS N77A (Purple).        -   Pollen color.—RHS 17A (Yellow-orange).        -   Filament color.—RHS 155A (White).-   Disease and insect resistance: Very disease resistant, however,    plants are susceptible to aphids, thrips, whiteflies and worms.

COMPARISON WITH PARENTAL LINES AND KNOWN CULTIVARS

‘SAKOST3586’ is a distinct variety of Osteospermum owing to itsyellow-orange with streaks of purple flower color, medium-large flowersize, flowers that stay open under low light conditions and compactgrowth habit. ‘SAKOST3586’ is distinguished from its parents primarilyby its yellow-orange with streaks of purple flower color andmedium-large flower size, as described in Table 1 (color references areto The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart, 4^(th) edition):

TABLE 1 Comparison with Parental Lines Characteristic ‘SAKOST3586’‘203148’ ‘203149’ Ray floret Yellow-orange Deep rose pink Light bronze(ligule) color, (RHS 18A) at tip that darkens yellow with upper surface:and Purple toward petal tip terracotta-brown (RHS N78B) at at petal tipbase with streaks of Purple (RHS N78C) from base to tip (fading outcloser to tip) Disc floret Yellow- Grey-brown Blue color grey/greenFlower size Medium-Large Medium-Large Large

‘SAKOST3586’ is a distinct variety of Osteospermum owing to its uniqueterracotta color, medium-large flower size, flowers that stay open underlow light conditions and compact plant growth habit. ‘SAKOST3586’ ismost similar to the Osteospermum plant named ‘Sideshow Copper Apricot’or ‘Saksiscap’ (Community Plant Variety Rights application granted Oct.22, 2007, grant number CPVR No: 21062) and ‘Saksiscopye’ (U.S. plantPatent application Ser. No. 11/901,441); however, there are differencesas described in Table 2 (color references are to The Royal HorticulturalSociety Colour Chart, 4^(th) edition):

TABLE 2 Comparison with Similar Variety Characteristic ‘SAKOST3586’‘Saksiscap’ ‘Saksiscopye’ Ray floret Yellow-Orange Copper with Yellow(RHS 12A) (ligule) color, (RHS 18A) at tip Purple at base with slightstreaks upper surface: and Purple (RHS of Yellow-Orange N78B) at base(RHS 17A) and with streaks of Greyed-Purple Purple (RHS (RHS 187A) attip N78B) from base to tip (fading out closer to tip) Ray floret Yellow(RHS Copper-Brown Greyed-purple (ligule) color, 12B) with Purple (RHS187A) with lower surface: (N77D) streaks streaks of Yellow mostly atcenter (RHS 12A) and from base to tip; Greyed-Purple floret is White(RHS 187A) at tip (RHS 155A) at base only. Color of disc Yellow-Grey/Pale Blue Grey-Brown florets Green Plant growth Compact Very compactVery compact habit Flower stalk Medium Short Short length

1. A new and distinct cultivar of Osteospermum plant as shown anddescribed herein.